Panel members were asked to review a decision denying property owner Tim Bidmead permission to carry out construction work on buildings called Alma Cottage, Milden and the grade-four-listed Alma.
Chris Jones, planning officer, recommended the plans be refused, and said that although many alterations and developments had been approved in the area in the past, the proposals were not acceptable.
‘It is considered that the formation of the new gable extension to the listed building and the new box-dormer to the end unit will result in a visually incongruous development to the detriment to the tenants, the character of the area and the listed building,’ he said.
‘Accordingly, we consider that the established proposal is contrary to the Island Plan and we recommend that refusal is maintained.’
The committee also heard from Tracey Ingle, the States’ principal historic environment officer, who said that change would harm the significance, character and the setting of the listed building.
However, Mark Dennis, architect for Origin Architecture Studio, said that the existing listed building had been extensively altered and that there was nothing of significant value left.
Meanwhile, Mr Bidmead complained about the 14 months it had taken to process his application.
He added that once a development to the south of the site was completed, his properties would be hidden from Victoria Avenue.
Responding to the criticism, Mr Jones said that his department was dealing with a very large number of applications and that staff endeavoured to deal with them as quickly as possible.
Planning Committee chairman Deputy Russell Labey and members Deputies Scott Wickenden, Jeremy Maçon, Rowland Huelin, Graham Truscott and Constable Deirdre Mezbourian all refused the application.
They cited concerns over the protection of listed buildings and the character of the surrounding area.
